The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-10
Representative Speakers Strongly Emphasize
the Necessity of Detecting and Properly
Furnishing the Tally-Sheet ForgerS.
Vigorous Comments on the Outrageous
Crimes by MIR. William Henderson.
He Earnestly Demands the Punishment of the
High-Handed Rascals for the Sake
Of Good Government.


last evening in the Criminal courtroom. 1t was
a public meeting, and the room was well filed
with an audience anxious to hear what the COM
mttee proposed to do in the further prosecution
Of the tally sheet forgers. There was unmis
taxable indication of earnestness. not only on
the part of the committee. but the entire audi
ence indicating that four months after the great
public meeting, called upon the discovery of the
tally-sheet mutila.on. the desire for the punish
ment of this crime upon the franchise was as
strong as then, and that every
effort would be made to aid
the prosecution of the scoundres.
The meeting was called to order by the presi-
dent, Mr. Silas T. Bowen, with sixty members
of the committee present and Mr.. E. W. Hal
ford was made secretary pro tenn. In calling
the meeting to order, Mr. Bowen said he was
glad so many citizens were present, as the COM
mittee needed their moral support, and might
ask further material AID He said: cat the
first meeting it was resolved that this organiza-
ton be made permanent one, and the aims
and object of the organization be to maintain
the purity of the ballot box. 1t has been ascer-
tanned that frauds were committed and the
count given to officers not entitled to them. By
the court those officers nave since been given to
the men justly entitled to them. 1t
may be asked, Why not stop here2 Why pros
ecute the matter furtherF For very good rea-
sons. We are under the protection of law.
Unless the violaters of law punished. law
affords us no protection. We also need the pun
shment of these men, if possible, for the pur-
pose of preventing repetition of the crime Up
to the close of the last century the laws of
England punished the crime of forgery the same
as murder. England and is emphatically
a commercial nation. The lawmakers saw the
necessity of throwing around commercial paper
every possible protection, and, therefore. made
the penalty for forgery death. In l777 a distin-
eulshed clergymen, ripe scholar and writer Of
books. the Rev. DR.. Dodd needed money. To
raise it he forged the name of his friend Lord
Chesterfield. for about "a. 900. He expected, of
course, to be able to pay the note himself, but
the fraud was discovered, and he was appre-
hended. The utmost efforts were made TO Sc
cure his release. The money was brought and
paid, and would have been paid by his friends
ten times over. but the Judge was inexorable
The law must be indicated, and he was con-
demned and executed. The moral effect of that
execution was remarkable.
We need q moral influence on this subject of
ballot box crimes The crime of Dr. Dodd was
aimed at the industries of Great Britain; the
crms of last November was aimed at the very
life of our government The theory of our gov
| ernment is that the ma ofity shall rule-the
will of the majority as expressed through the
| ballot box. Now, if that will be thwarted
| by forgery and fraud, government is fail
| ure: and. unless that can be suppressed, we can
| look for nothing but anarchy and revolution.
| We need to punish The question, of course.
! must be left to the courts, but this committee
can see that counsel secured, that witnesses
| are at hand. that evidence is brought out. and
| that fair and impartial trial is obtained. 1t is
necessary this committee should secure the CON
| fidence of both parties. We have other duties
besides prosecuting those guilty of these frauds;
we shall soon have another election. It'll vastly
| better for this committee to prevent frauds than
| to punish those who are guilty of them. We
| should be careful what we say and do, so as not
| to array any party against US. but command the
| confidence and respect of both parties.
| Judge Martindale moved that the sub commit
| tee that had previously chosen the committee
! of one hundred, correspond with absent mem
bers, and if any are not in sympathy with the
| objects of the committee, that they be allowed
| to resign and have their places supplied with
others who are in harmony and will serve. The
motion adopted. The committee consists Of
/
| and Wright.
The treasurer, William P. Gallup, reported
| that since his last report he had received So
| from Haugh, Ketcham & Co., which made a to-
| tai of paid subscription of $63l of which amour,
an uneXpended balance of Sl85. % remained or
hand.
Mr.. William Henderson, being called upon t.
speak, said: 1--WE take it that all the gentlemen
of the grand jury of Marion county honest
men, and we know we have evidence to brins
before that grand jury that will cause convic
tion Major Mitchell is acting fairly. He has
appointed Captain Ritter as his deputy before
the grand jury il this matter, and we know h'
will get ali out of it there is in it. 1t is very de
sirable this should not be made political ques
ton. 1t is not question of party or politics a
| ALL but question Of crime yet it is hard t,
| separate 1t from politics, because of the fou
| persons charged with the crime, at least three
are, prominent Democratic politicians, and thei
| crimes were committed in the interest of mem
bers of the party TO which l belong, and t,
which l am proud to belong In order tina
there might be NO misunderstanding to wha
| | might say, | have written it."
Mr. Henderson then read his Speech rs fol
lows:
Our deliberations on this occasion mus
naturally be somewhat retrospective, ant
| am cerv much obliged you fu
the opportunity of making a few remarks il
general and personal to myself l am sure / ex
press the sentiment of this committee when
say | never witnessed so large, so earnest and s
harmonious an impromptu meeting of the cit
zens of Indianapolis since the enthusiastic re
Spouse to the call to arms in 1861 as that assem-
oied IN this courtroom the 9Th day of Mover,
Der last. That great outburst of popular indc
nation which resulted in the formation O
this noble committee of one hundred
was not because of the fast that the Denocra.
had carried the county of Marion ut the election
OF the previous Tuesday The Democrats.
will De remembered, carried Marion county a
the election of 1874. The Democrats did elect
majority of their candidates for Office severa
occasions since, but there outcries. n
Indignation meetings held, simply because ther
was nothing to excite alarm for the rights Of tn
people. and. therefore. nothing protest against
On the contrary. when it became apparent t
every intelligent and upright citizen Of thi